SAN DIEGO, CA (WHDH) — Protesters went head to head with police outside a Donald Trump event in San Diego.

Police in San Diego swarmed in to push people back.

About a thousand Trump protesters gathered outside the convention center whree the candidate was holding an event.

According to police, three people were arrested, including one man who climbed a railing separating protesters from officers.

When that man was arrested, more problems arose as protesters began to spray water and throw empty plastic bottles at police.

Inside, Trump fired up the crowd, first wtih talk of debating Bernie Sanders, and then the idea that he wants no part of it.

“If you’re in first place, you don’t want to debate a guy whose in second place,” Trump said.

This week, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said he’d debate Sanders to raise money for charity.

Sanders’ team took Trump up on it, negotiating with TV networks and getting a million dollar pledge from a Sanders supporter.

On Friday, Trump backed out, saying in a statement it woudl be “inappropriate to debate the second place finisher.”

“I heard he was gonna debate, then not debate, then was, now you’re telling me he’s not,” Sanders said. “Well I hope he changes his mind again. Mr. Trump is known to change his mind many times in a day.”

The initial thought was that Trump wanted to debate Sanders to take away attention from Hillary Clinton.

Whatever the reason, Sanders is trying to hold Trump to his word and do the wrangling face to face.

“He’s a bully – he’s a tough guy,” Sanders said. “Well Mr. Trump what are you afraid of?”

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